In a message to mark World Press Freedom Day 2008, the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) spoke of the need for global solidarity to overcome threats to the media and the need for greater press freedom.

World Press Freedom Day was marked on May 3. The IĠM said it associates itself with the statement issued by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), of which the IĠM is the Malta affiliate, which says that global battles for safety, decent work and quality journalism can only be won if journalists stand together in defence of their rights.

In that statement, the IFJ called for "a renewal of global solidarity among journalists to combat the threats facing media", quoting its president, Jim Boumelha, as saying: "The future of journalism depends upon building fresh solidarity. Our work is at the heart of the struggle for democracy and human rights."

The IFJ says the future of journalism will not be guaranteed by politically inspired publicity stunts, or by dumbing down media and cutting editorial budgets.

The IĠM said that, although the Constitution in Malta guarantees freedom of speech and of the press, these rights are also restricted "under a variety of circumstances".

"Malta is one of the few European Union countries not to have a Freedom of Information Act, which is why it is so important that this law should be enacted with urgency in this new legislature and we await the publication of the Bill in the Government Gazette," IĠM Chairman Malcolm J. Naudi insisted.

"We have just witnessed an election campaign in which the media, including new media, played an important role, despite attempts by the main political parties to control the news agenda of the independent media to suit their partisan agendas at such a critical time for a democracy like Malta," he said.